Remote controllable endoscope system

• US 7,252,633 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2003
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Sato, Saichi, Obata, Mitsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker; John P.
• Application Number:
  US10/688,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20040225185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 600/118, 600/101, 600/109, 600/407, 348/65, 348/74
• US Class Current: 600/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00022 removable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0004 for electronic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0005 combining images e.g. side-by-side, superimposed or tiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/36 arranged for photographic purposes or projection purposes G02B21/18 takes precedenceor digital imaging or video purposes including associated control and data processing arrangements image data processing per se G06T
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

An endoscope control system comprises a network server device which is provided with an interface for executing an external application software and stores a graphical user interface (GUI) which is a display information which is written in at least a server language and external application software, and a network interface (network I/F). By doing this, it is possible to control remotely the endoscope device without connecting the endoscope device and the control section.

Claims

1. An industrial use endoscope control system comprising:

an endoscope device provided with an insertion section for taking an image of an inner section of a sample object for obtaining an endoscope image;

a control section connected to the endoscope device via a cable and comprising a server for performing network communication so as to transmit and receive the endoscope image by an electric signal or an optical signal and to control a driving operation for the endoscope device by executing external application software;

a communication network structure connectable to the control section; and

at least one external terminal for operating the endoscope device while observing the endoscope image via the communication network,

wherein the endoscope device is controlled remotely by the external terminal when the external terminal and the control section are connected by the communication network.

2. An The endoscope control system according to claim 1, wherein:

the control section is provided with a first image and voice capture;

the at least one external terminal is provided with a server connectable to the communication network structure for operating the endoscope device while observing the endoscope image,

wherein each external terminal has a second image and voice capture; and

a mutual communication is performed between the first image with the voice capture and the second image with the voice capture in addition to the endoscope image when the external terminals and the control section are connected via the communication network.

3. The endoscope control system according to claim 2, wherein the server converts an instruction from the external terminal and/or the control section for controlling a driving operation for the endoscope device to a signal for controlling the driving operation for the endoscope device by using a script.

4. The endoscope control system according to claim 1, wherein:

the remote control device and the external terminal have a microphone and speaker and/or a camera respectively; and

the remote control device and the external terminal communicate via the communication network such that information regarding conditions at the remote control device and the external terminal are exchanged by voice and image.

5. The endoscope control system according to claim 1, wherein an image display section and an operation switch section are disposed separately in the remote control device, such that the operation switch section is connected to the endoscope device via wireless communication so as to control the driving operation by transmitting an operation signal.

6. The endoscope control system according to claim 1, wherein:

a connection between the control section and the external terminal is controlled exclusively by an identification number (ID) or a password; and

the driving operation for the endoscope is controlled only by the external terminal allowed by the control section.

7. The endoscope control system according to claim 1, wherein the external terminal includes a Web browser and a receiving section, the control section including:

a communication I/F section operable to communicate with the external terminal, the communication I/F section including a transmitting data control section and a received data control section;

an endoscope control data converting section operable to communicate with the endoscope device, the endoscope control data converting section including a transmitting data control section and a received data control section; and

a Web server, and

wherein instruction signals supplied from the external terminal are received by the Web server through the Web browser and the received data control section, the received instruction signals are converted into control signals by the endoscope control data converting section, and the converted signals are transmitted to the endoscope device by the transmitting data control section.

8. An endoscope control system comprising:

an endoscope device with an insertion section operative to take an image of an inner section of a sample object to obtain an endoscope image so as to transmit the endoscope image via a connection with a communication network;

a remote control device operative to display the endoscope image, the remote control device operative to connect to the endoscope device via the communication network so as to control the endoscope device remotely while observing the endoscope image outputted from the endoscope device and information related to the outputted image, the remote control device comprising a server operative to receive and execute external application software to control the endoscope device;

at least an external terminal connected to the endoscope via the communication network and configured to operate the endoscope device while observing the endoscope image, wherein

the taking the endoscope image by the endoscope device is controlled remotely by the remote control device or the external terminal via the communication network.

9. The endoscope control system according to claim 8, wherein

the external terminal includes a Web browser and a receiving section,

the control section including:

a communication I/F section operable to communicate with the external terminal, the communication I/F section including a transmitting data control section and a received data control section;

an endoscope control data converting section operable to communicate with the endoscope device, the endoscope control data converting section including a transmitting data control section and a received data control section; and

a Web server, and

wherein instruction signals supplied from the external terminal are received by the Web server through the Web browser and the received data control section, the received instruction signals are converted into control signals by the endoscope control data converting section, and the converted signals are transmitted to the endoscope device by the transmitting data control section.

10. An endoscope control system comprising:

an endoscope device provided with an insertion section for taking an image of an inner section of a sample object for obtaining an endoscope image;

a control section connected to the endoscope device via wireless communication and comprising a server operative to transmit and receive the endoscope image by an electric signal or an optical signal and to control a driving operation for the endoscope device by executing external application software;

a communication network structure connectable to the control section; and

at least an external terminal operative to control the endoscope device while observing the endoscope image via the communication network structure,

wherein the endoscope device is controlled remotely by the external terminal when the external terminal and the control section are connected by the communication network structure.

11. The endoscope control system according to claim 10, wherein

the external terminal includes a Web browser and a receiving section,

the control section including:

a communication I/F section operable to communicate with the external terminal, the communication I/F section including a transmitting data control section and a received data control section;

an endoscope control data converting section operable to communicate with the endoscope device, the endoscope control data converting section including a transmitting data control section and a received data control section; and

a Web server, and

wherein instruction signals supplied from the external terminal are received by the Web server through the Web browser and the received data control section, the received instruction signals are converted into control signals by the endoscope control data converting section, and the converted signals are transmitted to the endoscope device by the transmitting data control section.